Resilient shoe sole and wedge construction



March 29, 1960 N. HACK ETAL 2,930,149

RESIL'IENT SHOE sou: AND WEDGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 28. 1959 3Sheets-Sheet l 3 F163 l6 I2 NVENTORS NA HAN HACK MORTON HACK8. LEONARDHACK ATTORNEY March 29, 1960 N. HACK ET AL 2,930,149

RESILIENT SHOE sous AND WEDGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 28. 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS NATHAN HACK. MORTON HACK 8 BY T LEONARD HACKATTORNEY March 29, 1960 N. HACK ET AL I 2,

RESILIENT SHOE sou: AND WEDGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 28, 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 3 NATHAN HACK MORTON HACK8. BY LEONARD HACK ATTORNEY rates.

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RESILENT SHOE SOLE AND WEDGE CONSTRUCTION Application January 28, 1959,Serial No. 789,571

11 Claims. (CI. 36-28) This invention pertains to resilient shoes solesand more particularly to shoe soles integrally formed with wedges.

The invention involves an integrally formed resilient shoe sole andwedge construction inwhich the sole is provided with added flexibilityand resiliency by a construction that employs either resilienttransverse ribs integrally formed with the sole body or extensions ofthe sole ribs in the body of the wedge area. The sole and wedgeconstruction may embody upper transversely extending ribs circumscribedby'an outer annular circumferential rim of solid material, or may embodyrib portions extending into the wedge area. The inventive constructionheredisclosed may be used with soles havingstraight or curved transverseribs.

A principal advantage and object of the inventive construction is toimpart added flexibility and resiliency to the Shoe sole. Another objectis to reduce the weight of the sole and wedge construction. Yet anotherobject is to impart added shock absorbing and cushioning values to thesole and wedge unit.

These and additional objects of the invention and features ofconstruction will be apparent from the description of the inventiongiven below, in which the terms employed are used for purposes ofdescription and not of limitation.

Reference is now made to the drawings annexed hereto, forming anintegral part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of a shoe embodying the inventive sole and wedgeconstruction.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sole and wedge taken substantially onthe line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2a is a top plan view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification ofthe structure illustrated therein.

Fig. 2b is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe line 2b-2b of Fig. 2a. V

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially of the line 3-3of Fig. 2. a

Fig. 3a is a transverse vertical section on the line 3a- 3a of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified sole and wedgeconstruction.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the sole and wedge of Fig. 5 takensubstantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, with portions broken away toshow the rib construction.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional 'view on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view taken substantially on the line8--8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 8a is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing transversely curved ribs.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view taken substantially on the line9--9 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9a is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing transversely curved ribs.

As shown particularly in Figs. v1 through 3a inclusive, the inventivesole and wedge construction provides an integral unit 10 formed ofresilient material comprising a lower sole portion 12 and an upperwedgeportion 14 covering substantially the rearward half of the sole portion.The unit it) is secured directly to a shoe base 15 by suitableadhesives, nailing, stitching, or by other suitable means and methods. 7

The sole portion 12 comprises a platform portion or body 16 from whichdepends a. series of downwardly and rearwardly inclined, para.lel,transverse ribs or members 18. The ribs, preferably terminate at theirlower edges 20 in a rounded conjunction of the front face 22 and therear faces 24 of each rib. The front and rear faces of each rib 18diverge upwardly to a. rounded conjunction or juncture 26 with theplatform portion or body 16. Y i

The wedge portion 14, integrally formed with the sole portion 12comprises an outer circumscribing peripheral rim 28 extending upwardlyfrom the body 16 at the outer edge thereof, rearwardly of the forepartof the sole portion 12, and a series of transverse, parallel, upwardlyand forwardly inclined ribs'or members 30. Although shown in Figs. 1through 3a, inclusive, as being integrally formed with the wedge rim 28,the ribs 30 may be formed independently of the rim 28, separatedtherefrom by a slit or notch 31 at their outer side ends, so that theribmembers 36 may flex independently of the wedge rim 28. The ribs ormembers 30 are provided with front and rear faces, 32 and 34respectively, converging to upper edges 36 terminating in the topsurface plane of the wedge portion 14, and diverging downwardlytherefrom to a rounded juncture 38 with the body 16. t

In the shank area 40 of the/shoe, the wedge portion 14 tapers downwardlytoward the sole portion 12, the wedge ribs 30 being truncated.

The action of the wedge ribs 30, when the unit '10 is secured to theshoe base 15, is that of flexing forwardly as weight is applied tothewedge portion 14 in walking or running. Even in standing, the wedgeribs 30 will tend to flex forwardly under load. Because of the resilientconstruction of the rib members 18 and 30 and the body 16 employed inthe fabrication of the unit 10, the wedge ribs 30 will flex downwardlyunder load and upwardly when load is released from the wedge, providbers18.

In Fig. 9 is shown a bottom plan view of the rearward portion of thesole-wedge unit 10. The sole rib members 18 are straight transverse inform.

In Fig. 9a, the rib members 18a are shown curved transversely of theunit 10, to provide resistance to sidewise slip or motion when engagedupon a hard unyielding surface. The reference numerals applied to thestraight transverse rib members 18 are also to be considered applied inFig. 9a.

A modification of the sole-wedge unit 10 is shown in Figs. 4 through 8inclusive. Added resiliency and cushioning, such as is provided by theupwardly inclined wedge ribs 30, may also be obtained by extending thesole ribs upwardly from below into the body of the wedge portion. 1

in the sole-wedge unit 5i) formed of resilient material, the soleportion 52 comprises a platform portion or body 54 from which depends aseries of downwardly and rearwardly inclined, parallel, transverse ribsor members 56 having their front faces 58 and their rear faces 60.diverging upwardly from lower edges 62 to a rounded juncture 64 with thebody 54. The unit 50 is also secured directly to the shoe base 15, as isthe unit. 10.

In the wedge portion 66 of the unit 56, lying substantially in therearward half of the unit, extending rib p0r- 2,930,149 Patented Mar..29, v

tions 68 of the sole ribs 56 extend upwardly into the wedge body orplatform 67. The extended rib portions 68, alternating with cavities 70,are integrally formed with the wedge bodyportion 67 and arecircumscribed by the outer circumferential rim 72 of the wedge 66.

The rib members 56 are shown straight transverse in form in Figs. 4through 8 inclusive. However, the members 56 may also be formed in thecurved transverse configuration 56a, as shown in Fig. 8a.

The sole wedge units 10 and 50 are made by a molding process of aresilient flexible material such as rubber, flexible plastics, or othersuitable compositions. The sole and wedge ribs are flexible in characterand yield under load, bending in the direction of incline.

A particular advantage of the instant inventive construction is theachievement of greater flexibility and resiliency in the sole togetherwith a substantial reduction in weight and savings in material,producing economy in unit production. Another special advantage andbenefit is the employment of the same resilient material for both thewedge and sole portions, which are made integrally and simultaneously.

The inventive sole-wedge units 10 and 50 function as shock and energyabsorbing and cushioning soles for shoes. As weight is applied to thesole in walking or running, the sole ribs of either of the units 10 or50 flex downwardly and forwardly, absorbing the landing shock andimpelling the foot forwardly by means of the energy absorbing resiliencyof the rib members. In addition, the wedge ribs 30, in direct supportingcontact with the shoe base 15, flex downwardly and forwardly, increasingthe amount of absorbed energy and the resultant released energy.

Similarly, in the solawedge unit 50, the sole ribs 56 having a largercross sectional area and volume by reason of their extension into thewedge body 67 will absorb more energy and thus provide a greaterresiliency and impelling movement to the forward motion of the shoewearer.

The downwardly projecting sole rib members 18 of the sole-wedge unit 10are considered to have the wedge IlbS 30 as extensions thereof in thebody 16, similar to the extended rib portions 68 of the sole ribs 56 insolewedge unit 50. In the former arrangement, the body 16 carries theextension of the lower rib members 18 as upwardly and forwardlyprojecting ribs 30, the body 16 serving as an intermediate pivoting bar;in the latter modification, the body 54 carries the extension of thelower rib members 56 as upwardly and forwardly extending rib portions68. The resultant function of either arrangement is greater flexibility,energy and shock absorbing and cushioning effects.

Having described the invention in its simplest terms, it will beunderstood by persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertainsthat the features of construction may be changed and varied in greateror lesser degree without departing from the essence of the inventiondefined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a shoe construction, a shoe base, an integrally formed sole andwedge unit formed of resilient material having a body secured to saidshoe base, a sole portion and a wedge portion contiguous with said body,a series of transverse parallel downwardly and rearwardly inclined ribmembers projecting from said body in said sole portion, said rib membershaving their front and rear faces conjoined at the lower ends of saidmembers and diverging upwardly therefrom to a juncture with said body,and upwardly directed extensions of said rib members in said wedgeportion, whereby when said shoe base bears upon said body under load,said wedge rib member extensions will flex and cushion the shock ofmotion and contact with a supporting surface, and simultaneously saidsole rib members will flex and produce a forward motion of said shoebase relative to said supporting surface.

2. In a shoe construction, a shoe base, an integrally formed sole andwedge unit formed of resilient material, said unit having a body securedto said shoe base, a sole portion at the underside of said body having aseries of transverse parallel rib members projecting downwardly andrearwardly from said body, said rib members having their front and rearfaces conjoined at the lower ends of said members and diverging upwardlytherefrom to a rounded juncture with said body, and a wedge portion insaid body having a series of transverse parallel extensions of said ribmembers disposed within the peripheral limits of said body, each of saidextensions lying in the plane of inclination of said sole rib members,whereby when said shoe base bears upon said body under load, said wedgerib member extensions will flex and cushion the shock of motion andcontact with a supporting surface, and simultaneously said sole ribmembers will flex and produce a forward motion of said shoe baserelative to said supporting surface.

3. In an integrally formed resilient shoe sole and wedge unit, a body, asole portion at the underside of said body and a wedge portion at theupper side of said body, a series of transverse parallel rib membersproject ing at a downward and rearward inclination from said body insaid sole portion, said rib members having their front and rear facesconjoined at the lower ends of said rib members and diverging upwardlytherefrom to a rounded juncture with said body, and a series oftransverse parallel rib members projecting upwardly at a forwardinclination from said body in said wedge portion in the planes ofinclinations of said sole rib members, said wedge rib members havingtheir front and rear faces conjoined at the upper ends of said ribmembers and diverging downwardly therefrom to a rounded juncture withsaid body, whereby said wedge rib members will flex in the direction ofinclination to cushion the shock of motion and contact when said unit isengaged upon a supporting surface under load, and simultaneously saidsole rib members will flex downwardly and forwardly and produce aforward motion of said body relative to said supporting surface.

4. The construction defined in claim 3, and in which both said sole ribmembers and said wedge rib members are curved transversely of said unit.

5. The construction defined in claim 3, and in which the front and rearfaces of said sole rib members and said wedge rib members are rearwardlyinclined.

6. The construction defined in claim 3, and in which said upper wedgerib members are integrally formed with a circumscribing peripheral rimdisposed above said body at its outer edge in the area of said wedgeportion.

7. The construction defined in claim 3, and in which said upper wedgerib members are formed apart from a circumscribing peripheral rimdisposed above said body at its outer edge in the area of said wedgeportion.

8. In an integrally formed resilient shoe sole and wedge unit, a body, asole portion at the underside of said body and a wedge portion in saidbody above said sole portion, a series of transverse parallel ribmembers projecting at a downward and rearward inclination from said bodyin said sole portion, said rib members having their front and rear facesconjoined at the lower ends of said rib members and diverging upwardlytherefrom to a rounded juncture with said body, the sole rib members inthe area of said wedge portion extending upwardly into said body to aplane above the plane of said sole portion and below the upper plane ofsaid wedge portion, and a circumferential peripheral rim of said bodycircumscribing said rib extensions at their side ends in the area ofsaid wedge portion, whereby said rib members will flex under load in thedirection of inclination to cushion motion of said body relative to saidsupporting surface,-

and said rib extensions will flex simultaneously with said rib membersto increase the shock cushioning values in said rib members. I

9. The construction defined in claim 8, and in which said sole ribmembers and their wedge rib extensions are curved transversely of saidunit.

10. The construction defined in claim 8, and in which the front and rearfaces of said sole rib members and their wedge rib extensions arerearwardly inclined.

11. The construction defined in claim 8, and in which said peripheralrim and said wedge rib extensions are integrally formed together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCrocker Nov. 1, Smith Oct. 27, Hubbard Ian. 5, Hallgren Oct. 24,Hoifenberg Oct. 9, Hack June 14, Hack May- 6,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 29, France Dec. ,6,

Great Britain Oct. 30,

